Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, what do you believe was the biggest challenge facing Mesa?
Mesa is a tale of two cities. Much of Mesa is relatively new and affluent. There, growth itself is the challenge. People are attracted to Mesa because we are affordable with high quality services. But we need to keep pace with the demand for infrastructure and services. Finding the resources to build new city assets, provide amenities, and hire needed public safety personnel has been difficult, but voters have supported the city’s plans and I’m pleased to say life is good. However, additional investment in city infrastructure will continue to be necessary, as evidenced by the increasing traffic congestion on some already overcrowded streets.
In the older neighborhoods of Mesa, where I was raised, the challenges are different. The streets, fire stations, parks and water treatment plants are already there but educational attainment is trending down, and poverty is trending up. As a strategic response to those challenges, I have initiated partnerships with businesses, our education systems and philanthropic organizations to increase kindergarten readiness and post-high school education. This has attracted large employers and helpful institutions to our previously declining neighborhoods. While these efforts have been successful thus far, there is still more work to do. Nurturing these positive and necessary measures to long term sustainability is my motivation for seeking a final term as mayor.
How would you grade the city’s financial health? And what would you do differently when it comes to city spending?
I defer judgment on Mesa’s financial health to the independent organizations with the skills to evaluate and rate city finances. Moody’s, the most well-respected of these institutions, recently upgraded our bond rating to Aa2 which is a very high investment grade rating for a city without a primary property tax. (Moodys.com, April 2019.) Mesa has received high rankings from other organizations and been named one of the nation’s best run and most affordable big cities. (WalletHub, 2019.) Mesa has earned a national reputation for frugality while continuing to provide quality services.
Prior to the Pandemic, anticipating an economic downturn, the City put aside extra reserves. This decision has left us well positioned and prepared for the dramatic loss of sales tax revenue due to the sudden shut-down for the virus. The federal government gave stimulus money to individuals and small businesses as well as city governments to help them avoid economic catastrophe. Due to our healthy economic reserves, the city was able to share some of the federal money intended to prop up the government to help residents and small businesses in need.
How should Mesa address the growing problem of homelessness in the city? Would you support a homeless shelter in Mesa?
Mesa is addressing homelessness in our city. I’m proud of how compassionate Mesa residents are and of our outstanding human service agencies. Recent point in time counts showed that homelessness has increased countywide by 20%. Mesa is doing more than many of our neighboring communities to address this issue. It’s time to get our regional partners to do their share as well.
Mesa has allocated millions of our federal CARES Act funding to preventing homelessness during this time that many residents face an uncertain financial future. Through the Mesa CARES program, the City has partnered with local food banks to provide food boxes to anyone facing food insecurity. The program also provides rental assistance and help with utilities to make sure no one is left homeless during the pandemic.
Often, homelessness is caused by addictions. The Mesa City Court and Mesa Police have collaborated on programs like Veteran’s Court and Community Court which have proven successful at reducing recidivism. Community Bridges is one of our outstanding partners and offers hope and services for this vulnerable population. We must continue to do more to provide help for those who will accept it.
In lieu of a single shelter, the City is working to get people off the street by supporting a variety of options including the East Valley Men’s Shelter and emergency shelters. Utilizing some of our federal CARES Act dollars, Operation Off-the Streets has been helping the homeless avoid exposure to the virus by housing families and individuals in various motels throughout the city that are underused. The ongoing problem requires more emergency, short term and affordable housing in all parts of Mesa and transitioning more families and individuals into permanent housing.
Downtown Mesa redevelopment has been continually slow to take off. What would you do to boost it?
I think that could have been said of downtown Mesa a few years ago. Currently, there is a great deal going on that many residents might not be aware of. Several exciting large projects like The Grove and The Grid are under construction and several others will break ground soon. Currently, over 2,000 residential units are either under construction or being planned in our downtown. What downtown Mesa needs is more people and more shops, restaurants and offices. These projects address those needs.
ASU@Mesa City Center is bringing one of ASU’s most exciting and innovative colleges to the heart of the city and has been the catalyst for many of the new projects we see happening. Despite the pandemic, downtown Mesa is still progressing and has a bright future. Recently, three new restaurants and two large shared workspace office projects have either opened or announced they will soon open in downtown. When our underutilized retail, commercial and residential downtown neighborhoods are revitalized, the increased economic activity will pay dividends citywide.
Mesa police officers have been accused of excessive use of force. What are your suggestions to improve the department and its relationship with the community?
We are in a moment in history where we should take a good look at our police department’s procedures and policies and take action where needed. I have a good relationship with the Police Chief and together we are committed to listening to the residents and organizations who are asking for meaningful change in our community. Use of force policies are being evaluated and changed.
Recently, the Mesa Police Department invited a review of its use of force policies by a highly regarded national police standards organization, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). PERF recommended 66 best practices. Following that study, a committee with 12 community members and 12 members of the police department met every two weeks for nine months to review every PERF recommendation and the Department’s use of force policy. As a result, the Department implemented PERF’s recommended 66 best practices with just a few modifications. Here are a few of the pertinent policy updates:
- Implement concurrent investigations that ensure incidents involving force are promptly reviewed for legal, policy and training issues.
- Create a Critical Incident Review Board with representation from the labor association, MPD Advanced Training unit, MPD legal advisor and two civilians.
- Provide educational Critical Incident Community Briefings.
- Prohibit shooting at or from a moving vehicle.
- Prohibit strikes to the face, head, or neck other than when a suspect engages in active aggression.
- Ensure officers have a duty to intervene when they observe unreasonable, unnecessary or disproportionate use of force.
- Emphasize that the policy of the Mesa Police Department is to value and preserve human life in all situations.
MPD’s Community Engagement Division works on strengthening relationships with the community and gives residents an opportunity to learn about and get involved in policing. Additionally, new officer training now includes a course on Black culture and history designed to help them understand the perspective of the Black community. My goal is to expand this program to include more races, nationalities and religions.
Finally, I must thank our officers who work hard every day to ensure our residents are safe at home, work or school. Their efforts have led to historically low crime rates in our city.
What are your thoughts on the city’s recycling program and efforts to improve sustainability in Mesa?
Recently, due to a combination of several factors, the City was forced to pause its recycling program. Worldwide, there has been a sharp decline in the market for recyclable materials. As a result, one of the three companies contracted with the City to purchase recyclable commodities cancelled their contract. Another company cut their contract with the City by 80%. At the same time, the facility used to sort the City’s recyclables at the Salt River landfill was destroyed by fire. Added to all of this was the pandemic and the need to consolidate truck routes so that multiple employees weren’t sharing vehicles.
I’m committed to returning to a robust recycling program as soon as possible. We are exploring a partnership with a third-party investor that assists cities in creating sustainable recycling programs in the now unprofitable economy for recyclable commodities. ASU is also conducting a study of Mesa’s options and making recommendations. We will get citizen input to gauge the public’s willingness to pay for blue barrel service. The revised recycling program will also have to be accompanied by a significant education campaign. We all must become better at recycling because one contaminated blue barrel can spoil an entire truck load of materials.
Mesa has been improving our sustainability efforts. Our Hazardous Materials Facility is an award-winning effort to reuse and safely dispose of dangerous household products. We will be able to bring back our green waste pick-up when the city fully reopens and are starting a food to fuel program as well.
Should the city do more or less to support elementary, secondary and post-secondary education in Mesa? If so, what and how?
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The State Legislature sets the budgets and regulates K-12 education. Our elected school boards do an excellent job working within those parameters and have made good decisions for the four districts within our city boundaries. Where cities can make a real difference is in kindergarten readiness and post-high school educational opportunities. These have been some of my top priorities as mayor. I have worked with philanthropic organizations and individuals to fund innovative programs to address the real needs we have in Mesa related to educational attainment.
Mesa K Ready is an outstanding collaboration with our school districts, community museums and libraries, and education experts to raise the level of kindergarten readiness in our city and promote future success in school.
The pandemic revealed a growing digital divide in our city. When school moved online, some families were unable to participate. Using a portion of our federal CARES Act funding, the city purchased distance learning devices for every public elementary school student in the city and will be assisting with internet connectivity. Partnerships between school districts and the city need to be continually cultivated.
One important role of a city is to develop a strong workforce. A strong education system also makes Mesa more appealing to businesses looking to relocate. Mesa Counts on College helps students apply for and prepare to go to college or trade school. Sometimes, a student does all they can to get accepted and get financial aid, but they fall a little short financially when they get in the registrar’s office and need to pay fees and material expenses. We recently established the Mesa College Promise, a partnership between the City, Mesa Community College and philanthropists, to cover the difference and make sure that qualified students can continue post-high school training or education without worrying about a funding gap.